Aussie Adam Gotsis continues to move up the Broncos’ depth chart, as another defensive lineman, as Jared Crick, a defensive end, was carted off the practice field with a back injury.
At the rate at which they are going through defensive linemen, the Broncos might want to consider luring Jarryd Hayne into making the code hop once again, as NFL defensive linemen earn well beyond the paltry $AUD1.2 million the Titans are willing to squander.
Crick was being given a MRI as Broncos’ Head Coach Vance Joseph was speaking to the media following practice Monday, so the true extent of his injury is not certain. It is hoped that all Crick has is a crick in the back, something we journos often have in our necks from sleeping in inappropriate positions/places.
The Broncos are looking to bring additional defensive linemen into their training camp, because at this point, Gotsis is one of the few standing intact.
Derek Wolfe is out with a serious ankle sprain, but he should be back soon and the Broncos will not risk him in practice or meaningless pre-season games. Nose tackle Billy Winn is out for the season after an injury sustained in a pre-season game with the Chicago Bears.
Gotsis is now at the top of the depth chart and they have signed free agent Zach Kerr, a veteran with three years’ experience with the Indianapolis Colts, but not enough ability to preserve his job with Indy.
Even Gotsis is slightly dinged, having undergone an arthroscopic procedure in June, but he has come on strong since returning to full-contact team drills.
Many NFL observers feel that Gotsis has the ability to be a major part of the Broncos’ defensive rotation, but that he needed some additional time to develop and gain the confidence that he can trust his surgically repaired knee when the games begin to truly count in September.
